Hidden Mickey Adventures 1

by Nancy Temple Rodrigue

  “Well, if that’s what it was, it was probably up.”

  “Oh, good.” She sounded relieved for some reason.

  “Why is that good?”

  “Down is always scary. Don’t you watch any movies?”

  Peter gave a chuckle. Catie always surprised him. “I think down would lead us somewhere near The Pit restaurant and the underside of Pirates. Even though that would be really fascinating and I am hungry, I have no idea where either a hallway or stairs would take us. You ready? I have the other light.”

  Two matching beams of light came now into play and pointed forward into the unknown blackness. With the added help of Catie’s flashlight, they could see it was an extremely narrow passage that was just barely tall enough to walk upright. As they got to their feet, they both instinctively knew it was time to remain as quiet as possible.

  It came as a surprise to Catie when Peter suddenly whispered, “Stay close.” He immediately felt her hand searching for his. “Here.” His light briefly showed where his free hand was. Feeling her warm grasp, he turned back to the passage. “You ready? It’s pretty narrow. Eww.”

  “Shh! What?”

  Catie heard a loud smack on the wall. “Nothing,” he whispered over his shoulder as he began to move slowly forward. Catie tried to avoid looking at all the cobwebs that hung down from the unseen ceiling.

  After inching along the side wall for about ten feet, the flashlights seemed to show a dead end when a cement wall loomed in front of them. Not giving up, they kept moving forward until they found the angled corner of the courtyard. Just a few feet more beyond the corner, the wall suddenly curved inward toward them. “I know where we are.” Peter looked back at her, talking in an excited, hushed voice as he took another couple of steps forward. “This is that place on the stairs with the statue of the boy. Remember? Oww!”

  “What happened? Are you hurt?” Catie hurriedly whispered, hoping it wasn’t so serious that she’d have to figure out where to go for help.

  If Peter had had a free hand he would have rubbed his bruised knee. “I’m okay. I hit my knee on…something metal, I think. It sure felt like metal.” He broke off as both of their flashlights did what they should have been doing all along—point at what was in front of them instead of what was above. “Oh, wow, it’s a spiral staircase! How come I didn’t see that coming?”

  “Because you were looking at me?”

  Peter could hear the smile in her voice. He almost replied that it was because she was prettier than the plain walls around them, but suddenly decided not to. Instead, he set his foot on the first step and shined his light up into complete darkness. Trying to sound like Peter Pan, he whispered, “Come on, everybody! Here we go!” He was rewarded by a light chuckle.

  They counted twenty steps as they climbed higher and higher into the unknown. The walls that surrounded them, just as they had been in the passageway, were made of plain white concrete and undecorated. The handrail was black iron and also unadorned.

  “Compared to outside, it’s not very pretty in here.” The light only illuminated the bland features around them and did nothing to enhance them.

  “I guess all that matters is what we find at the top. Hey, I think we’re there.”

  Catie could hear the excitement in his voice. “What is it? What did you find? Is there room for me?” Her view was limited to Peter’s backpack and the walls. The staircase was so narrow it allowed only one of them on a step at a time. She wondered if it would be the same at the landing on top.

  She noticed Peter pointed his light at the landing at his feet. It, too, looked narrow and dusty. “Not sure. There might only be room for me, I think. Sorry.” When his ray of light moved around the landing, it lit up what appeared to be a door. Close enough now, he could tell that it was painted the same blue as the woodwork outside in the Court of Angels.

  As Peter stepped onto a landing wider than he had expected, he turned to face the door. Because she was still standing lower than Peter on the stairs, Catie had to let go of his hand and immediately clasped onto the dusty banister of the staircase. Her flashlight began to explore.

  “Peter, what’s that?” Her light was shining above his head into the corner of the small alcove.

  “Where? Oh, up there? I don’t know. See that red dot? Is that some kind of camera? Wonder where it goes?”

  Still one step below him, Catie couldn’t see everything. “I don’t know. Did you find a door? Is there a lock? Tell me what you see!”

  At her anxious request, Peter moved his light back to the blue door and forgot all about what might have been a camera. As he carefully examined the door in front of him, neither one of them noticed when the red light above them turned green.

  “Lance!” Kimberly was at her post in Fullerton. “They found it. They’re at the door to the chamber.”

  Lance hurried across the War Room to the bank of monitors that Kimberly had been watching. Adjusting a button on one of the screens, the wavering image of Peter and a beam of light behind him that must be Catie came into sharper focus. “That’s my boy.”

  “Our boy!” Kimberly corrected him, obviously proud of their son. “Imagine. Our son is following in our footsteps. This might not be the secret chamber we found above Main Street, but I’m so happy to see that they’ve followed each clue that Walt had put in place. Wow, Lance. Just think. Peter might be our successor as Guardian.” When she smiled at Lance, her eyes got a little misty.

  “What about Catie?” Lance watched as Peter fumbled with the keys, trying to figure out how they worked. “She’s in on this, too.”

  “Yeah, I know. Well, we’ll just have to wait and see how all this plays out.” She could only shrug at the unknown future. “Catie’s parents didn’t pursue anything once they found the first treasure. It took you digging deeper to find that it went further. I don’t know how she’ll react to all of this.”

  As they continued to stare at the monitor, they both wondered what the eleven-year-old girl and the thirteen-year-old boy would do with their futures that were about to be changed forever.

  “I can’t get the key to work, Catie.” Frustrated, Peter was getting warm in the close darkness.

  “Why not? Doesn’t it fit?”

  “It kinda fits, but it’s wobbly and the teeth won’t grab.”

  “Did you try the other key, too, Peter?”

  “Yeah, both of them do the same thing.”

  “Is there another keyhole we haven’t seen yet? Maybe you have to use one of the keys in each hole. Do you think?” Her flashlight went up to the top of the doorway.

  Peter’s light joined hers and then took a slow journey to the bottom of the doorframe. “No, there’s no other keyhole. This has to be the right one.”

  “Want me to try?” Her voice sounded timid. While she didn’t want to make Peter feel like he couldn’t do it right, it was difficult to just stand there and do nothing.

  “Sure.” The response was immediate. He was relieved, actually, and welcomed her help. “You’ll have to squeeze up here, though. Don’t drop the keys! I don’t want to have to climb all the way down there again.”

  With slightly shaky hands, Catie accepted the two keys after handing her flashlight to her companion. She then slid her slender body into the small space between Peter and the door. Under different circumstances, she might have enjoyed the close proximity to Peter, but this was not the time. “You’re right. They don’t seem to fit very well. Gosh, I hope this isn’t the wrong location. Do you think there’s another secret passage?”

  “There are probably a lot of secret passages we don’t know about. But, all the clues pointed to this place. The keys have to work. Try the other one.” Peering over her shoulder, he aimed the light at the brass keyhole.

  The second key had the same results as Peter had gotten. “Shine your light over the keys, Peter.” She stared at the brass lying in her open hands. “Maybe there’s something on them we missed.”

  The light only showed
what Peter had seen before. One side of the key was flat, but it was on the opposite side from its mate.

  “Did you ever try to fit them together? Do they match up?”

  “Yeah, but they’re still two keys.”

  “Aren’t they thicker that way?”

  Peter’s face lit up. “Hey, you’re right. Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe they have to fit into the lock at the same time. Do you want to try that?”

  “Sure. I think I can.”

  It took only moments for the double key to slide into the lock and nestle perfectly inside. “I think that’s it, Peter. It’s hard to turn, though.”

  “Probably because it is so old,” he muttered. “Let me help you,” as he placed his hand over hers. Together they gave the keys a good turn. They could hear the tumblers fall into place in the close confines of the stairwell. The resulting click was loud.

  “We did it!” Suddenly breathless, she wanted to hug him, but there wasn’t room.

  “Okay, help me push the door. It seems really heavy for some reason.”

  Together, both of the kids pushed on what turned out to be a heavy steel door. With their combined efforts it began to slowly swing inward.

  A whoosh of stale air swept past them as Peter anxiously shined the two lights into the darkness that had opened up in front of them. Taking back her flashlight, Catie grabbed Peter’s free hand once again when he took the first, tentative step over the threshold. Their two small beams of light did little to dispel the gloom. Feeling on the wall next to them, Peter found a small toggle switch and pushed it upward.

  With an electrical sizzle, a very small, old-fashioned red and white globed chandelier flickered on overhead. Dust on the glass lights prevented most of the illumination from shining outward. Still, it was enough to show they were in a narrow room, not much bigger than a large walk-in closet. They could see a window on the far wall, covered over with a dark, burgundy drapery. Some wooden crates were also stacked in the small space, all of them with the stencil Disneyland painted on the planks facing outward.

  In the middle of the room was a small ornate table that was topped with veined, white marble. It looked like one of the tables from the Lilly Belle. On top, centered on a yellowed doily, was a small glass case. Dust caked the glass dome as the two flashlights played over it. Walking closer, Peter could see something inside that was gold colored. Dropping Catie’s clammy hand, he used the edge of his shirt to wipe off some of the dusty film. Bending closer to the table, he could finally see what was inside. “It’s another key,” he told Catie who was peering over his shoulder.

  “Look, there’s an envelope tucked under the wooden base. It looks really old.”

  “Think we should we open it?”

  “I think it’s why we’re here. I think,” she repeated, the doubt obvious in her voice.

  “Okay, if you think we should.” Peter gently pulled out the envelope out from under the case and carefully opened the flap. It had long since lost its adhesive.

  “Out loud.” Catie chuckled when it became obvious that Peter was silently reading to himself.

  “Oh. Sorry.”

  “Hi, there!” he read,

  “I see that you found my secret hiding place in the Court of Angels. Congratulations on figuring it all out. This quest wasn’t as difficult as some of my other Hidden Mickey quests are—or were—depending on when you find this.

  “What you see in front of you is very special and I hope you will take it seriously. There are only two others like it in existence. I have one of them, of course, and my Guardian Wolf has the other one.

  “This isn’t exactly the Key to the City, but it is the Key to Disneyland. This is a master key that will allow you access to any room anywhere you need to go inside Disneyland and my Studio. As a Guardian, you will have to be able to go everywhere necessary to protect my legacy. This key will help speed up the process. I don’t want you to have to fool around with a huge key ring in case something needs your immediate attention.

  “Guard the key well. There could be a lot of mischief if it falls into the wrong hands. And, that is what I am trying to avoid.

  “You will find some boxes in here as well. Just some trinkets you might enjoy from the early days of my buddy Mickey and of Disneyland. Take good care of them.

  “Thank you,

  “Walt Disney.”

  “Oh, Peter, that’s from Walt himself! Isn’t that wonderful?”

  Peter was distracted by what he read and his head snapped to face her. “What did you say? Wonderful? Yeah, it is.” Going over to the curtained window, he lifted one corner of the dust-encrusted material to peek out. “It’s the Court of Angels. This looks like one of those balconies that came out of nowhere.”

  “Can we open the window? Or is that a door? It’s awfully dusty in here.”

  There were six large panes of glass that covered the upper three-quarters of the French doors. The bottom section was painted wood. Peter pressed closer to one of the panes of glass. “Hey, I think we’re right over that statue in the curved wall. See where the staircase turns? There’s usually people coming and going all the time, but I don’t see anyone out there right now. I guess it would be all right.”

  Handing the fragile letter to the girl, he struggled with the rusty locks that held the doors firmly shut. Once he got them lifted, the doors swung easily inward. The fresh air was a welcome relief.

  “Catie?” Still watching the courtyard for any sign of activity, he didn’t turn back. “What do you think Walt meant by the word guardian? He seemed to be saying that whoever had this key would be some kind of guardian. And he mentioned Wolf, too.”

  Catie looked back at the key in question. “Yeah, I noticed that, too. But I don’t see how it could be our Wolf. He isn’t nearly old enough to have known Walt. I mean, he’s old, but not that old.” She voiced the same opinion everyone under the age of fifteen had of anyone over the age of twenty-five.

  “I know. I was thinking the same thing. It kinda fits what our parents were talking about after that Todd guy grabbed me. When we were in the study? They said something about Wolf and Walt. Maybe we need to ask him.”

  Whatever Catie was going to say was cut off when a smug male voice that came from the doorway. “And maybe you need to back away from the window and get over here where I can watch you.”

  “It’s that security guy!” Peter’s mouth dropped open. “How’d you find us?” He looked quickly over his shoulder out into the courtyard, hoping to see Wolf emerge from the shadows. Wolf was supposed to be out there—not this guy. Stepping protectively in front of Catie, he glared at the intruder when he saw the knife Todd held out in front of him.

  “Oh, isn’t that cute. You’re protecting your little girlfriend.” Todd motioned with the knife. Peter could see it was a bigger blade than last time. “Get away from that window. Don’t make me tell you again, or I start with the girl this time.”

  Peter put an arm around Catie and guided her toward the opposite side of the table. “You won’t touch her!” he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at the smirking man.

  “I’ll do what I want!”

  “Oh no! Lance, call Wolf. Now!” Kimberly yelled for Lance as she stared unbelievingly at the monitor. “It’s Todd.”

  Turning away from the holographic map of Disneyland and the red light that was now flashing in New Orleans Square, Lance frantically looked around for the pager. “How did he get in there? I thought Wolf was watching them.”

  “He must have thought it was safe when they got inside. He’s probably with Beth.”

  Lance was angrily punching the emergency button that would alert Wolf’s walkie talkie. “I don’t care what he’s doing. He was supposed to watch them…. Wolf! Get back to the courtyard. Todd has the kids!”

  “Where’s my Gold Pass, you thief!” Peter tried to divert the attention away from Catie.

  Todd was busy reading over the letter he had snatched from Peter’s hands. “That would be my G
old Pass, you spoiled brat. My, you and your family are just one big surprise after another. And, Wolf, too.” He tsk tsked with his tongue as he tried to continue reading. “Sounds like he has some secrets, too. Which I am sure he’ll be willing to share with us just to keep you two brats safe.”

  “What are you going to do with us?”

  Todd liked hearing the fear in Peter’s voice. It made him feel powerful. “What I should have done that first day. Get rid of you.” Angling the letter more toward the light from the window, he let out a grumble. “It’s still so dark in here. Toss me your flashlight. Now!”

  Seeing a chance to do something, Peter heaved the light so it rolled closer to the open French doors that led out to the balcony. His hope was that Catie could get down the spiral staircase and away.

  “Brat.” Todd walked over to pick up the light. “By the way,” he commented mildly as if discussing the time of the next parade, “if either one of you takes as much as one step out of this room before I tell you to, the other one loses an ear first. Then I’ll decide if the next part will be an eye or a thumb.”

  Even in the gloom of the room he could see Catie turn pale at his words. Hoping the brat didn’t faint so he’d have to carry her out of there, Todd quit tormenting her and tried to read the rest of the letter.

  With a sudden, angry yell, a furious Wolf launched himself from the doorway into the open-mouthed, shocked Todd as the letter flew out of his hand. There wasn’t even enough time to get his knife up in defense when he found himself hurtling backward through the open French doors. The force of the impact broke through the wooden railing around the balcony and the two men fell heavily onto the stairway below.

  Todd sustained the majority of the impact when Wolf landed on top of him, knocking the air out of his lungs. He could only whimper when Wolf’s fist drew back and landed the first punch on the side of his face. For Todd, all went black.

  Breathing hard, Wolf looked up and could see Peter perilously close to the broken edge of the balcony. “Are you all right, Uncle Wolf?” he asked anxiously. “You’re bleeding!”